[Ditto]

50% of ALS patients die within 18 months after diagnosis. Only 20% survive 5 years and 10% live longer than 10 years.

I have know two guys who came down with it --- both big, x-Marine types. One lasted less that 18 months, and the other about 5 years. After seeing them, I'm not sure which one was better off.

[presidio9]

True story: I was having dinner at my friend's house and his brother remarked that an acquaintance had "Lou Gehrig's Disease." His octogenarian Italian grandmother remarked "I didn't even know he played baseball!"